Apparatus for surface processing

ABSTRACT

An apparatus for the surface processing of articles wherein the number of stations at which the article is treated is minimized. This is accomplished by the provision of means whereby each processing liquid is successively delivered and drained from the same processing bath. A supply chamber for each processing liquid is provided, the liquid from a respective supply chamber being delivered therefrom to the processing bath and returned thereto from the bath simultaneously and synchronously.

Nov. 4, 1975 'United States Patent [191 Nystrom APPARATUS FOR SURFACEPROCESSING [76] Inventor:

Primary ExaminerMartin P. Schwadron Assistant Examiner-Robert J. Milleror Firm.lames N. Blauvelt Attorney, Agent [22] Filed:

ABSTRACT 21 Appl. No.: 486,625

An apparatus for the surface processing of articles wherein the numberof stations at which the article is treated is minimized. This isaccomplished by the provision of means whereby each processing liquid issuccessively delivered and drained from the same processing bath. Asupply chamber for each processing liquid is provided, the liquid from arespective supply chamber being delivered therefrom to the processingbath and returned thereto from the bath simultaneously andsynchronously.

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APPARATUS FOR SURFACE PROCESSING The present invention relates toapparatus for the surface processing of articles which are immersed in asurface processing bath. More particularly the invention relates toapparatus for preparatory or further processing of articles which areenclosed in an electroplating drum immersed in a surface processingbath.

In mass electroplating installations of this kind a plurality ofdifferent surface treatments have to be carried out, each of which inconventional installations require a surface station of its own, thesurface stations being arranged in the order required by the processcycle used.

Such conventional installations therefore, require much space and arecorrespondingly expensive. The number of stations can, however, besubstantially reduced if the so-called coil rinsing drums according tothe Swedish Pat. No. 211,026 are employed.

The object of the apparatus according to the invention therefore is toreduce the number of surface processing stations, which is achieved byenabling the prior and subsequent treatment of the article to be carriedout without passing it to another drum at the same station, where therinsing of the article takes place. The counter-stream rinsing methodwhich is described in the Swedish Pat. No. 332,108 can be employed toadvantage at the rinsing stage where poisonous matter has to be removedfrom the article before subsequent surface processing. It is alsopossible to provide direct depoisoning by spraying the article withdilute antipoison or neutralizing liquids in the electroplating drumaccording to the Swedish Pat. No. 21 l,O26. it

According to the invention therefore an apparatus is provided forsurface processing comprising a surface processing bath and a pluralityof collaterally arranged supply chambers for containing differentsurface processing liquids, a pump for delivering the surface processingliquid from a desired one of the supply chambers to the surfaceprocessing bath,-and an outlet from the surface processing bathadapted-to return the surface processing liquid to said desired one 'ofthe supply chambers characterised in that the pump has a suction orificewhich is movable about and along the adjacent ends of one end of thecollaterally arranged supply chambers and vertically movable forimmersion into a selected end of said adjacent ends of the supplychambers, the pump having an outlet which is connected to a duct openinginto the surface processing bath, an outlet duct communicating with theoutlet in the base of the surface processing bath, the outlet ducthaving an orifice movable over and along the other end of thecollaterally arranged supply chambers synchronously with the movement ofsuction orifice along the ends of said one end of the collaterallyarranged supply chambers.

The invention will now be described with reference to the attacheddrawing, which shows diagrammatically and in perspective an apparatusaccording to the invention.

Referring to the drawing, 1 is a common supply bath, which is divided inthis case into four separate and parallel supply baths 2, 3 4 and 5 forthe respective surface treatment liquids. A surface processing bath 6 isplaced over the supply bath 1. The former is so arranged that one ormore electroplating drums 7 for the article to be treated can be loweredinto the surface processing bath and there set in rotation in aconventional manner.

sprocket wheels (not shown) which are accommodated in covers 1 1 and 19at both ends of a rail. A centrifugal pump 12 is vertically movable inthe bracket and can be set at different heights by means of a motor 14.By

. moving the bracket along the mutually adjacent ends of thev supplycharnbers2-5 a. suction. orifice 13-of the centrifugal pump can befitted into the relevant end of the selected supply chamber. On anotherbracket 15, which-is movable along a rail similar to the rail 8 on theother end of the surface processing bath 6, there hangs the orifice 16of an outlet duct 18 mounted in an outlet 17 in the base of the surfaceprocessing. bath. The bracket 15 is coupled to a horizontal part of anendless chain similar to thechain 10, the endless chainbeing passed oversprocket-wheels, one of which is housed in a cover 19 and driven by anelectric motor 20. Since the sprocketwheels in the cover 19 shown and arespective cover 1 1 are connected by means of a shaft 21, the twochains and so the two brackets 9 and 15 move synchronously with eachother. Thus the suction orifice 13 of the centrifugal pump can bebrought means of the motor 20 into a position over one end of the supplychamber at the same time as the orifice 16 of the outlet duct is passedto the other end of'the same supply chamber. Once the centrifugal pumpis inserted withits suction orifice 13 into one end of the supplychamber 5, the liquid from the supply chamber is pumped into the upperpart of the surface processing bath through a pliablehose 22, whoseupper end is connected to an electromagnetic switching means 23 forconnection to a hollow bearing bush 24 for the electroplating drum 7, sothat the liquid can be injected into the electroplating drum through ajournal not shown in the drawing. The liquid flowing out of theperforated electroplating drum is collected in the surface processingbath 6 and flows through the outlet 17 and the outlet duct 18 to theother end of the supply chamber 5. Hence, this liquid can be mixed withthe liquid in the supply chamber, so that any direct passing of theliquid is prevented.

Any direct mixing of the liquids in the different supply chambers 2-5 isobviated by the fact that the bracket with the centrifugal pump 12 is somechanically coupled to the orifice 16 of the outletduct 18 that thesuction orifice 13 and the orifice 16 of the outlet duct find themselvessimultaneously over or in the same supply chamber. A contributory factoris that the pump is a centrifugal pump, from which the liquid flows outwhen it is turned off.

If for some reason the liquid flowing out of the outlet pipe 18 were tobe returned to the corresponding supply chamber the outlet pipe could beset into direct communication with a separate collecting bath or anoutlet system. In such a case water from a water pipe can be deliveredto the corresponding supply chamber and controlled by a level controlmeans.

Every surface treatment is followed by rinsing with water before thenext surface processing liquid is injected into the electroplating drum.This presents the advantage that when the apparatus according to theinvention is used the electroplating drum can stay in its position inthe surface processing bath 6 throughout the whole of the preparatorytreatment programme, which may consist, for instant, of partialemptying, rinsing, pickling, etching and rinsing. Only then is the electroplating drum transferred into the plating bath. With the platingcompleted the electroplating drum is returned to its position in thesurface processing bath for further treatment. This may consist, forexample, of rinsing, pickling, chromating and final rinsing. As thefinal step the electroplating drum is now taken out of the surfaceprocessing bath and the article is allowed to dry, whereby it is finallyprocessed.

The invention can be modified within the scope of the following claims.Thus a suitable programmed control means may be used, and a preliminaryand subsequent treatment station may be made completely automatic.Further, the surface processing bath may be adapted for handling severalelectroplating drums simultaneously, these being arranged beside eachother or, preferably, in succession. The cleaning of the apparatus maybe made easier if the surface processing bath, together with the pump,outlet duct and the means for the horizontal movement of the pump andthe outlet duct that are mounted thereon, is formed as a detachableunit, upon which are mounted supply chambers 1-5 in a common case 1.

I claim:

1. An apparatus for the surface processing of articles comprising: asurface processing bath having an inlet and an outlet for processing thearticles utilizing a plurality of different processing liquids, aplurality of collaterally arranged supply chambers each containing arespective one of said processing liquids; pump means for delivering theprocessing liquid from each of said supply chambers to said processingbath; said pump means having a suction orifice which is movable aboveand along the adjacent ends of said supply chambers at one end of saidcollateral arrangement thereof, and vertically movable for selectiveimmersion into said adjacent ends of the supply chambers and an outletcoupled to the inlet of said processing bath; duct means coupled to theoutlet of said processing bath for delivering processing liquid from theprocessing bath to re spective ones of said supply chambers, said ductmeans having an outlet orifice movable over and along the adjacent endsof the supply chambers at the other end of said collaterally arrangedsupply chambers synchronously with the movement of said pump means aboveand along said one end of the collaterally arranged supply chamberswhereby as said pump means delivers a processing liquid from arespective one of said supply chambers to the processing bath throughthe inlet thereof, said duct means simultaneously returns thatprocessing liquid from the bath to said respective one 4 of the supplychambers through the outlet orifice thereof.

2. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein first track means isoperatively disposed along said one end of the collaterally arrangedsupply chambers, said first track means having a bracket movably mountedthereon for adjustment relative thereto, said pump means being connectedto said bracket for verticle movement relative thereto whereby said pumpmeans is movable along and over said supply chambers and immersabletherein respectively.

3. An apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein the outlet orifice ofsaid duct means is connected to said bracket for synchronous movementtherewith.

4. An apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein said pump means is acentrifugal pump.

5. An apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein a duct is provided forcoupling said pump means to the inlet of said processing bath said ductconsisting partially of a pliable hose.

6. An apparatus as claimed in claim 5, wherein said duct means is a pipeslewably mounted in the base of the said processing bath.

7. An apparatus as claimed in claim 6, wherein said pipe is a flexiblehose.

8. An apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein second track means isoperatively disposed along said other end of the collaterally arrangedsupply chambers, said second track means comprising a rail having abracket movably mounted thereon which is coupled to the outlet orificeof said duct means, and an endless movable chain coupled to said bracketand passing over sprocket wheels respectively connected to each end ofsaid rail; and said first track means includes a rail having saidbracket thereof movably mounted thereon and an endless movable chaincoupled to the bracket and passing over sprocket wheels respectivelyconnected to each end of the rail of said first track means; shaft meansfor coupling one of the sprocket wheels of said first track means withone of the sprocket wheels of said second track means whereby thesuction orifice of said pump means and the outlet orifice of said ductmeans move synchronously with one another.

9. An apparatus as claimed in claim 8, wherein said processing bath,said pump means, said duct means and said first and second track meansare detachably mounted as a unit upon said supply chambers accommodatedin a common casing.

1. An apparatus for the surface processing of articles comprising: asurface processing bath having an inlet and an outlet for processing thearticles utilizing a plurality of different processing liquids, aplurality of collaterally arranged supply chambers each containing arespective one of said processing liquids; pump means for delivering theprocessing liquid from each of said supply chambers to said processingbath; said pump means having a suction orifice which is movable aboveand along the adjacent ends of said supply chambers at one end of saidcollateral arrangement thereof, and vertically movable for selectiveimmersion into said adjacent ends of the supply chambers and an outletcoupled to the inlet of said processing bath; duct means coupled to theoutlet of said processing bath for delivering processing liquid from theprocessing bath to respective ones of said supply chambers, said ductmeans having an outlet orifice movable over and along the adjacent endsof the supply chambers at the other end of said collaterally arrangedsupply chambers synchronously with the movement of said pump means aboveand along said one end of the collaterally arranged supply chamberswhereby as said pump means delivers a processing liquid from arespective one of said supply chambers to the processing bath throughthe inlet thereof, said duct means simultaneously returns thatprocessing liquid from the bath to said respective one of the supplychambers through the outlet orifice thereof.
 2. An apparatus as claimedin claim 1, wherein first track means is operatively disposed along saidone end of the collaterally arranged supply chambers, said first trackmeans having a bracket movably mounted thereon for adjustment relativethereto, said pump means being connected to said bracket for verticlemovement relative thereto whereby said pump means is movable along andover said supply chambers and immersable therein respectively.
 3. Anapparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein the outlet orifice of said ductmeans is connected to said bracket for synchronous movement therewith.4. An apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein said pump means is acentrifugal pump.
 5. An apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein a ductis provided for coupling said pump means to the inlet of said processingbath said duct consisting partially of a pliable hose.
 6. An apparatusas claimed in claim 5, wherein said duct means is a pipe slewablymounted in the base of the said processing bath.
 7. An apparatus asclaimed in claim 6, wherein said pipe is a flexible hose.
 8. Anapparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein second track means isoperatively disposed along said other end of the collaterally arrangedsupply chambers, said second track means comprising a rail having abrAcket movably mounted thereon which is coupled to the outlet orificeof said duct means, and an endless movable chain coupled to said bracketand passing over sprocket wheels respectively connected to each end ofsaid rail; and said first track means includes a rail having saidbracket thereof movably mounted thereon and an endless movable chaincoupled to the bracket and passing over sprocket wheels respectivelyconnected to each end of the rail of said first track means; shaft meansfor coupling one of the sprocket wheels of said first track means withone of the sprocket wheels of said second track means whereby thesuction orifice of said pump means and the outlet orifice of said ductmeans move synchronously with one another.
 9. An apparatus as claimed inclaim 8, wherein said processing bath, said pump means, said duct meansand said first and second track means are detachably mounted as a unitupon said supply chambers accommodated in a common casing.